The past year has been another busy one for the Society. Meetings have been held in the Gaelic Primary School and have covered a wide range of topics including: Researching the Life of Màiri Mhòr nan Òran, William Clunes, shinty, sheep, and clearance in early nineteenth century Sutherland,and Dùghall Bochanan, to name but a few. Once again we are fortunate to have had a variety of papers of such high quality read at our meetings. We wish to record our sincere thanks to our speakers throughout the year: Calum Cameron-White, Liz Macrae-Shaw, Hugh Cheape, Jim Hunter, Hugh Dan Maclennan, Derek Flyn, Allan Turner, Donald Meek and Hector Mackenzie. Thanks are also due to all those who took part in the Culloden Anniversary Service.

To the many faithful members who turn out to these meetings, a very special thanks to you. If you are aware of anyone requiring a lift to meetings, please get in touch with a member of committee.

We had a beautiful day for last year’s annual outing. We were very fortunate in having Society member, William McRobbie providing a commentary throughout the trip to Gairloch.

Volume LXVII of the Transactions should be with the members by now. Please get in touch if you have not received your copy.

Ceannard 2017-18 / Chief of the Society 2017-18

Chief of the Gaelic Society of Inverness from 15th April 2017 to 13th April 2018 - Jo NicDhòmhnaill

Jo MacDonald is a native Gaelic speaker from the island of Lewis. During her career spent largely with the BBC, she worked mainly in factual and education programming. Before leaving the BBC at the end of 2008 she was Managing Editor of BBC Gàidhlig, a tri-media department whose output includes the national Gaelic radio service BBC Radio nan Gaidheal; a wide range of television programming for the new Gaelic channel BBC ALBA and for BBC2; and the Gaelic website bbcalba.co.uk.

She was also member of MAGOG whose 2002 report to Scottish ministers recommended the establishment of a body which would take a strategic approach to Gaelic Development activities.

Jo now works as a freelance researcher, writer, broadcaster and translator. She is a member of An Seotal ’s Gaelic terminology panel and a member of The Sorley Maclean Trust.

The Chief delivers the address at the Culloden Anniversary Service, April 15th 2017, the Society’s annual dinner on November 4th and finally at the annual business meeting on April 13th 2018. A very warm welcome to Jo in her year as Chief to the Society.

Seirbheis-cuimhneachaidh Chùil Lodair/ Culloden Anniversary 2017

The Anniversary Service will be held at the Cairn on Saturday 15th April. This will follow the usual pattern with the Society Chief, Jo Macdonald, giving an Address. This is followed by prayers and a blessing by Rev.K.D Macleod, Invergordon and Rev Canon Mel Langille, Fortrose, respectively. Gaelic Psalm singing will be part of the service with Donald Roderick MacAskill and friends, Dingwall, leading the praise. The Society’s Bard, Maoilios Caimbeul, will read verses from the poem: Am Breacan Uallach, The Proud Plaid, by Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair.

An appropriate lament will be played by the Society Honorary Piper, Mr Euan J. J. MacCrimmon, after which a wreath will be laid on behalf of the Society by Jo Macdonald.

Cuairt samhraidh / Summer Outing

The summer outing this year will take place on Saturday 27th May to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic College on Skye. There are one or two places still available on this day trip. Please contact the Secretary to book a seat on the coach. The cost is £25 for the coach hire.

Làrach-lìn / Website

Please visit our website at www.gsi.org.uk for all information regarding the Society and the latest news. The website has been up-dated and we are very grateful to Donald John Macleod, Librarian, for his work in keeping the site up-to-date as well as our Facebook page! To keep down postage costs, newsletters will appear on our website. A paper copy will be issued on request.

Leabharlann / Library

A collection of 200 books of Jacobite interest has been received from the estate of the late Miss Christian Aikman of Morar, a vice-president of the 1745 Association. Our classified index to the Society’s Transactions has recently been updated and is available on the GSI website.

Ballrachd / Membership

We welcomed a substantial number of new members this past year.

Our Treasurer, Donald Norman MacLeod, is grateful to all of you who complied with the request to pay your subscription by Standing Order. Those of you who have not yet taken advantage of this facility are reminded that this can be done by contacting the Treasurer at any time. Membership is currently £20 per annum and is due for renewal on 15th July each year. Sending reminders to such a large membership is quite costly, so please put this date in your diary to avoid any lapse of your membership. Anyone requiring further information should contact the Treasurer. Students at Universities and Colleges may join the Society at the reduced fee of £10 per annum.

A’ cuimhneachadh / Remembering

Sadly, we have had to record the loss of some of our members and friends in the past few months. We would like to extend our sincere sympathy to those members who are mourning the loss of family and friends at this time. We would ask that you keep us informed of the passing of any of our members in order that a formal tribute may be paid to them at our members’ meetings and subsequently recorded in the Society Transactions.

Finally, we would like to express our thanks to Highland Council and the Inverness Gaelic School for the use of their premises for our meetings.

Gaelic Society of Inverness

The Gaelic Society of Inverness was established in 1871 for the purpose of “cultivating the language, poetry and music of the Scottish Highlands and generally furthering the interests of the Gaelic-speaking people”. It has continued this work for over 140 years.